Such a Good Mom by Julia Spiro was a good read although sometimes I felt it dragged in places. It’s the story of Brynn Nelson who has just recently given birth to a baby boy. Like all new mothers, Brynn is exhausted and possibly suffering from some type of postpartum depression. She sometimes wishes that she could go back to the life she had before when she was free to do as she pleased and live just for herself and her own happiness. In the very beginning, Brynn’s husband Ross is accused of murder. In Brynn’s opinion, that is not something Ross would do. Brynn has alienated herself from her own family and is adhered to Ross’ family completely. But the Nelsons who come off as being well liked and well respected citizens on Martha’s Vineyard are hiding things and keeping some pretty awful secrets. Even the local police chief can’t be trusted. Thanks to Brynn’s 3 close friends who stand by her through everything, Brynn in her tired and depressed state has to find out who really is the killer so as to prove Ross’ innocence. This story had a great concept and it was an enjoyable read but for whatever reason it wasn’t a book that kept me glued to my kindle. The fact that it took place on Martha’s Vineyard was a big attraction for me as that is one place that I have on my bucket list to visit someday. I’d like to thank Katie Layton, Marketing Intern and Allison Ziegler, Assistant Director of Marketing @ Minotaur Books/St. Martin’s Publishing Group for sending me a widget and NetGalley for the arc. I did enjoy reading this and would recommend it to others. I’m giving this book a 4 star rating.

This was my first novel by this author and I was surprisingly enthralled! The first line hook had my attention and had me clicking kindle pages until the very end

Since the main character is suffering from postpartum depression, there is lots of character rumination. An action scene that moves the plot forward is often followed by a long section of character thought. I felt the novel moved along slowly. There was more depression thinking than I like and I struggled to continue reading. The actual mystery was not as prominent as the exploration of the depression.

This is a book for readers who like more character thought than action. I like more action so this book was not so much for me.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent review.

Women's fiction with a mystery. I enjoyed the immersive setting and the heart wrenching look at motherhood.

This one definitely hit me in the feels. It was marketed as a mystery/thriller but it’s more women’s fiction with a mystery. The mystery element I personally found to be too predictable; however, that didn’t stop me from enjoying this as much I did.

The MC Brynn was very relatable. As she is looking into this murder her husband was arrested for she’s also struggling with postpartum depression. Her anxiety, guilt, and constant second guessing herself as a mother hit home for me.

With this being set in a small beach town and well developed characters this will make the perfect beach/pool read this summer!

I have mixed feelings about this book! I think that the premise was definitely interesting and up my alley. If you like rich notorious family-deep rooted scandal stories where a family member comes to terms with the crime and scandal that’s occurred, then this book would be a good fit. I understand that the author was trying to incorporate the fact that the main female character was pretty fresh postpartum into the storyline and it also determined how the main character perceived all the other characters and the situation that happened but it was a little much to constantly read about her postpartum thoughts and experiences because I went through postpartum pretty recently (my youngest is 16 months) so at times it was a bit triggering and hard to read, and I think at times redundant. I do think the author accurately portrayed what it feels like to be postpartum and dealing with PPA and ppd. I would recommend it to people who like this type of book

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the free review copy.

Started out a little slow but I was drawn in by the end! This book had a very creepy/suspenseful vibes at times. Overall, a good thriller.

Thank you, Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Julia Spiro’s SUCH A GOOD MOM will be the perfect beach read, where the sun and sand will transport you to Martha’s Vineyard, but be careful of what the flotsam brings ashore.

Ah, Martha’s Vineyard. Tourist season, new money, old money, just the type of place people love to visit. But new mom, Brynn Nelson is up to her eyeballs in sleepless nights, diapers and baby bottles and feeling like a part of her is lost with every waking hour. Her husband, Ross seems to be disappearing before her eyes, he has kind of tuned out and she is left shouldering all of the baby responsibilities on her own. Then the body of Cecilia Buckley washes ashore and Ross is arrested and charged with her murder. Brynn is at a loss as to why Ross has been charged and all he’ll say to her is to look at the orange sun. She has absolutely no idea what that means but decides to investigate what is happening in an attempt to clear Ross’s name. Although Ross‘s parents, Margaux and Henry, never really liked her, she is lucky enough to have friends Ginny, Annie and Marcus, who are in her corner and ready to help in the fight.

Brynn thought she knew her husband but as she investigates she begins to learn some things about Ross and his family that have had a 20 year hold on them. It appears that Cecilia was investigating an expose regarding a work accident from two decades ago that appeared to have been covered up. Were there crooked cops? Payoffs? Brynn is not sure, but she continues to dig as if with a backhoe. When one of her possible informants also goes missing, Brynn is even more convinced that things and people on the surface are not to be trusted.

I really enjoyed this novel. Brynn’s struggles with motherhood and postpartum depression were compounded by the unbelievable arrest of her husband and yet she persevered. The writing was clear and concise which led to an enjoyable read. I have read Julia Spiro in the past, and she never disappoints. I can’t wait to see where she takes me next.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC opportunity. All opinions are my own and given voluntarily.

“What a tangled web we weave…” I really enjoyed this book as it wasn’t what I was expecting. It started off fairly slowly but picked up momentum.
Brynn, a mom with a newborn, is facing all the insecurities that come with this new role., when her husband is arrested for murder. His family rally round to help out and Brynn is grateful. She’s not convinced her husband is guilty and he tells her a few things that give her hope of his innocence.

A page turner and Ann a great read! 4 1/2 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for my eARC.

Thanks to Minotaur Books for sending me an ARC of Such a Good Mom, as well as NetGalley access to the ebook and audiobook. I switched back and forth between reading and listening to this book over just a few hours, as I had to know how it would turn out ASAP!
Set on Martha's Vineyard, Such a Good Mom follows first-tune mother Brynn as she navigates life post-baby. While she loves her baby Lucas, she is struggling and lacking support from her husband, Ross. His solution is for his mother to spend more time helping out, rather than doing more around the house himself because he is working extra hours. After a seemingly accidental death is ruled murder - and Ross is taken into custody as the suspect, Brynn is thrown into a search for what really happened and if her husband was involved.
This was the perfect vacation read for me - enough drama in an idyllic setting to get me invested and just twisty enough to keep my attention, even with the gorgeous beach views trying to distract me! I have not read the author before, but I plan to look into her backlist.
I think this may be a tougher read for someone who has more in common with the main character Brynn - for instance a new parent struggling to balance the demands of a baby with their previous child-free life. Brynn is in a rough mental state for much of the book, and I can imagine that being a hard place for a new parent to spend time.

I loved the writing in this book, and it got off to a strong start for me with the psychological aspect of PPD. I liked being inside the main character’s head — as a childfree person it was quite honestly terrifying.
The murder mystery part wasn’t quite as strong as the psychological parts of the book. Overall it was a quick, solid read. Thank you for the finished copy; I plan to donate it to a little free library.

Thank you Netgalley for the advance reader copy of Such a Good Mom by Julia Spiro in exchange for an honest review. This was a good murder mystery wrapped up in post partum depression. This was such an interesting way to set up this genre. There is continually the reminder that the story is told by an unreliable narrator.

This was an interesting read. It was bad enough that Cecelia was a new mother suffering post-partum depression, but then her husband was arrested for murder. This book concentrated a lot on Cecelia’s mental health (she was a mess!) and continues as she tries to determine if her husband is guilty as charged. I received a complimentary copy of this book and chose to write a voluntary, unbiased review.

Such a suprisingly good book! I loved the authors writing style and felt like it was hard to put down. The pacing felt a little weird to me at times but aside from that I would definitely recommend.

This was a quick and easy read. The plot was easy to follow and it moved along well enough to keep me engaged. However, I really disliked the main character, Brynn. I am 8 months postpartum and even I had a hard time reading the endless passages about being a new mom. What really bothered me though was her reckless decision making. It seemed like a lazy way to move the plot along at times. I would say this is a good read and I expect to see a lot of growth in Spiro’s writing and character development in the future.

A new mother suffering through post partum depression goes on a hunt for answers to absolve her husband of the crimes he is accused of.

While this did an exceptional job on shining a light on post partum depression, it became redundant at times, and the mystery of this became overshadowed. The protagonist was relatable and came to life within the pages, showing her vulnerability and strength to keep going for the sake of her family. The mystery became background noise at certain points but was still well done and unpredictable. Atmospheric and raw, this is a mystery that will linger long after the last page has been read. Four stars.

Thank you, Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

This was so good! Creepy and suspenseful, I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. I loved how it started. I love how it ended. I loved everything in between. This was such a great thriller and I couldn’t put it down once I started!

Through relatable characters and a compelling narrative, the book touches on themes of perfectionism, sacrifice, and the quest for self-understanding. The writing is engaging and candid, providing both humor and depth as it navigates the highs and lows of motherhood. Readers will find themselves reflecting on their own experiences, making this a resonant read for anyone interested in the multifaceted nature of parental love. Ultimately, Such a Good Mom is a heartfelt reminder of the challenges and joys that come with raising children while seeking one's own identity.

Brynn Nelson, despite having a healthy newborn, a devoted husband, and a successful career on Martha's Vineyard, finds herself struggling with postpartum challenges and a growing distance from her husband, Ross. Her life takes a dramatic turn when a family friend is found dead, and Ross is arrested for the crime. Amidst the chaos of sleepless nights and motherhood, Brynn is determined to uncover the truth about Cecelia Buckley's murder, even if it means questioning her trust in Ross and herself.

Before you read this book please be aware of the in-depth detail of postpartum depression and in less detail- pregnancy loss.

I enjoyed this mystery- it wasn't a "on the edge of my seat" read, but I was still drawn in and finished this is just a couple of days. I guessed the truth of the mystery pretty early on, but I liked getting to see everything unfold through Brynn's POV. Brynn had so much happening in her life all at once, and that really helped play into the mystery aspect of the story for me. Julia Spiro does a great job at portraying how hard motherhood can be and the struggles that come along with experiencing PPD.

Overall, the setting of the book was great- being located on Martha's Vineyard, and highlighting the social class differences of some of the characters. I did enjoy this book, and will likely check out some of the author's other books in the future.

Rating: 3.5/5
Spice: 0.5/5

Tropes:
Unreliable Narrator
Red Herring
Remote Location
Early Suspect
Motherhood

Thank you NetGalley, St Martin's Press and Julia Spiro for the chance to read this eARC. All thoughts are my own.

This was more focused in ppd and the experience and isolation of a new mom than I expected but I found it powerful. As someone who didn’t fully understand that what I was feeling after having my daughter was ppd until many years later this book made me reflect on that time of my life. I think if I read this book within even a few years after having my daughter I would have struggled because of all the feelings it brought out. That all being said - I really loved this book. I liked how Brynn’s state of mind played into the murder investigation.

Also, living in MA made me appreciate the fact that this took place in Martha’s Vineyard

This book might not be for everyone but it was one of my favorite reads so far this year